Fire set to face AC Milan in May friendly

Toyota Park is going to be as international as Epcot Center
in May. Following on the heals of the recent announcement of the Sister Cities
International Cup, the Chicago Fire announced on Wednesday that they will host Italian
giants AC Milan on Sunday, May 30.

The match will be the second between the two clubs. Milan
won the first meeting, defeating the Fire 3-1 at Soldier Field in 2005.

“As one of the world’s most storied clubs, A.C. Milan will
guarantee an exciting, passionate match for fans of the Fire and the world’s
game in their own backyard at Toyota Park,” Fire President Dave Greeley said in
a release. “It allows us to showcase Chicago as the world-class city it is and
our supporters as the best in MLS.”

Milan, seven-time European champions, currently sit in third
place in Italy’s Serie A, trailing AS Roma and cross-town rivals Inter. Club officials
said they are committed to fielding all of their star players who are not
participating in World Cup duties, meaning such global stars as Ronaldinho, Clarence
Seedorf, and Filippo Inzaghi could be in the Rossoneri side.

The Milan friendly comes just over a week after the end of
the inaugural Chicago Sister Cities International Cup, a four-team tournament
that will see European clubs Paris Saint-Germain, Legia Warsaw and Red Star
Belgrade play a knockout tournament in Bridgeview.